Zeev: The gifted female child Sheeana Brugh (Kristine Dow) at Rakis (Arakis HQ) has confirmed that the Scattering occurred (the Company did loan US$967,000 to directors), but at a slight premium to the Rakian price for melange (approximately 8% interest rate). Unfortunately the spice has been stored in no-ships (the loans were unsecured), hence we must simply trust its safe-keeping though we cannot see it with our eyes.
Sheeana teaches that a quorum of the Scattering (US$750,000 of the total loan) was distributed to a former Sandworm (John McLeod), with a minority of the spice distributed between the Baron Har-Khan-nen (Lutfur Khan) and his batman guardian (Arman Aziz). Apparently the former Sandworm suffered from a general spice deficiency (personal tax liabilities), and the sisters of the Bene Gesserit (the Company directors) wished to limit production of the deadly Water of Life (exercise of options).
Since Sheanna's lessons (these valuable words) were taught from the Bene Gesserit glyphs projected above the table display (the telephone), it was impossible for me to see the color or her eyes. I trust they were the same blue-in-blue of our fellow Fremen, but visual distortions may have concealed the contact lenses that simulate non-addict pupils.
Razor ;-)
<<"There is a female child named Sheeanna Brugh on Rakis," Schwangyu said. "She can control the giant worms."
Lucilla concealed her alertness. Giant worms! Not Shai-hulud! Not Shaitan! Giant worms! The sandrider predicted by the Tyrant had appeared at last!>>
...
<<Sheeana lifted herself on one toe, pivoted and darted ten paces across the rocky avenue. She put one foot up on the sandy incline of the outer dune and lifted both arms to the sky. Slowly at first and then with increasing tempo, she began to dance, moving up onto the sand.
The 'thopter sounds grew louder overhead.
"Listen!" Sheeana called, not pausing in her dance.
It was not to the 'thopters that she called their attention. Odrade turned her head to present both ears to a new sound intruding on their rock-tumbled maze.
A sibilant hiss, subterranean and muted by sand -- it became louder with shocking swiftness. There was heat in it, a noticeable warming of the breeze that twisted down their rocky avenue. The hissing swelled to a crescendo roar. Abruptly, the crystal-ringed gaping of a gigantic mouth lifted over the dune directly above Sheeana.
"Shaitan!" Sheeana screamed, not breaking the rhythm of her dance. "Here I am, Shaitan!"
As it crested the dune, the worm dipped its mouth downward toward Sheeana. Sand cascaded around her feet, forcing her to stop her dance. The smell of cinnamon filled the rocky defile. The worm stopped above them.
"Messenger of God," Waff breathed.>>
...
<<Odrade silently cursed him. Any unwarranted noise could attract this beast onto them. She knew what Waff was thinking, though: No other Tleilaxu had ever stood this close to a descendant of his Prophet. Not even the Rakian priests had ever done this!
With her right hand, Sheeana made a sudden downward gesture. "Down to us, Shaitan!" she said.
The worm lowered its gaping mouth until the internal firepit filled the rocky defile in front of them.
Her voice little more than a whisper, Sheeana said: "See how Shaitan obeys me, Mother?"
Odrade could feel Sheeana's control over the worm, a pulse of hidden language between child and monster. It was uncanny.>> |
